On Singing Hymns

Why Sing Hymns?

This question is often asked by new generations as they are asked to sing and use the old songs from a by-gone era.

Rephrasing it, it is asking, "Is there anything important in singing these old hymns?"

Or even perhaps, "It's not straight from the Bible so what does it matter?"

However, even though singing hymns as we find in traditional hymnbooks is not found in the Bible, per se, I would argue that there is something very important in using them in the course of a local church's worship service.  I would like to give a few important reasons why singing hymns is an important part of a Christian church's worship service.

First of all, Paul commands the Ephesians to "speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music in your heart to the Lord"  (Eph 5:19).  Thus there is warrant for hymns.  In fact, the gospels say that after the Last Supper, they sang a hymn and left  (Matt. 26:30; Mark 14:26).  In the latter case, it is very likely that Jesus and His disciples sang one or more of the Psalms.

I know this is far more modern, yet it retains some of the ancient mid Eastern sound and intensity that Jesus and his disciples might have brought to the table as they sang.

I am not going to say that I understand completely what "hymn" means to the ancient first century Christian, but I can say that it was a literature genre and art form that was meant to convey Biblical truths to be sung in worship—both corporately and privately.  In fact, some say that 1 Timothy 3:16 is one of the earliest recorded Christian hymns:

  He was manifested in the flesh,
      vindicated by the Spirit,
          seen by angels,
  proclaimed among the nations,
      believed on in the world,
          taken up in glory.

Thus the first point is that the tradition to sing hymns is ancient and commanded by Scripture.

But, some would ask, couldn't we just have our own new, modern hymns?

Sure.  Psalm 96:1 says that we are to sing unto the Lord a new song.

Yet it does not prohibit the singing of that which is old.

Thus I would argue that there is room in the Lord's church for all varieties of songs.  However, as Paul says, everything must be done decently and in order  (1 Cor. 14:40).

A few simple tests help weed out songs which do not edify:

   * It is Scripturally correct?
   * Does it point to God? or is it focusing on self?
   * Does it magnify the Lord? or stay rooted in this world?

These simple tests can (and should) be applied to modern songs, favorite choruses, hymns and even old fashioned hymns.  If it doesn't lead to Jesus, why are we wasting time with it?

Hymns and Psalms and Spiritual Songs should draw us closer to our Lord—

J. C Ryle wrote in his book Holiness that "it is better to be acquainted with Christ Himself.... He that would be conformed to Christ's image, and become a Christ-like man, must be constantly studying Christ Himself."  (J. C. Ryle, "Holiness"  Chapter XII)

Additionally, Ryle wrote that we should "labor to be familiar with every line that is written about Jesus."

Of course, this first and foremost means that we must delve into the Scriptures to see Jesus.  Our Lord Himself proved this to the disciples walking along the road to Emmaus as He explained all that Scriptures is about Himself  (Luke 24:27).

But can we not also reap the blessing of other writers who have dived deeply into the Scriptures and wrestled long with passages and then written their learned understanding?  Yes, that is why we look to old writers such as Augustine and Luther and Calvin as well as the many Confessions of Faith and Catechisms.  Likewise there is a wealth of learning and teaching and instruction embodied in the hymns from of old too.  Saints from other times wrote out of sorrow, or in joy, or in hope—that is, in like circumstances as we face.

Do not cast it aside and then try to re-invent the wheel anew.

Worship is more than just us!—

Many learned man of old has pointed out that (paraphrasing here) "if we are able to see into the distance, it is because we stand on the shoulders of giants."  We should not forget the saints who have gone before us and have left a record of their understandings both in literature and in song.

Hebrew 12:22 - 23 gives some additional understanding for how we worship:

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,  and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Do you see that we are not just a simple collection of a couple dozen people or even several hundred who are meeting together on a Sunday morning?  Christian, consider this and be filled with awe!  We are meeting with Jesus!  Jesus Himself comes, humbles Himself, bends down, draws near to our worship and thus sanctifies it.  His presence makes it hallowed.  His company makes our meeting sweet.  His residence and inhabiting in our praise makes the very effort that we have made to be the most sublime of all earthly endeavors.

That alone should give our hearts cause for endless joy!

But the writer to Hebrews tells us that there is more! 

We are gathered together with the holy angels who long to look into such things  (1 Peter 1:12).

Additionally, we are somehow connected and drawn together with the saints who have gone on ahead of us: "The spirits of the righteous made perfect."  Think about that.  I barely can comprehend what that means, but somehow, I imagine that there are all these saints who have lived before us, now in heaven, and God allows them to bend near to hear and partake of our seemingly plain and simple earthly worship.  Yet, it is not plain and simple, for God Himself draws close, causes His holy angels to bend near to watch, then invites the triumphant saints to sit nearby in exultation as His church militant gathers in meager numbers but in triumphant song, singing the hymns that saints of old once heralded. 

Consider that, O Christian.  Somehow next to you—in hidden array—a saint of old draws near and sings along with what you are singing.  Our hymnbooks contain songs from the 12th Century: "Of the Father's Love Begotten."  From 1215: "All Creatures of Our God and King."  From 12th and 13th Century: "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel," and even from the 5th Century: "Let Al Mortal Flesh Keep Silence."

That is an awesome legacy!  We are singing the songs that saints have sung before.  It is really no small matter that we are singing the same songs that Martin Luther composed, sang, and directed his congregation to sing.  And what of the hundreds of songs that Fanny Crosby that are in a variety of hymnals?  This saint of the nineteenth century who was physically blind, but saw with a greater clarity than most of us?  This dear sister who was happy that she could not see because her first sight would be the Savior's face?  Surely that must draw our hearts to wonder what excited her and motivated her songs.

I would also point out that there is a broad spectrum of nationalities that are represented in hymns—far more than just the narrow slice represented in the current slice of popular songs.  Somehow, God, in His infinite wisdom, divided the nations by language.  No one language perfectly describes what another language tries to tell.  Thus, somehow, God is telling us that we cannot in our our limited understanding grasp the length and height and breadth of all that God is.  It takes a wide variety of languages and tongues and cultures to even to begin to scratch the surface of the mysteries of who God is.

Yet, He has allowed us to interact with other cultures and languages and so begin to see another side of His many faceted-being that is inexhaustible and limitless and without boundaries! 

Hymns allow us to see a slightly different viewpoint on the immensity of God and His utterly incomprehensible infinitude!  Consider our hymnbooks have hymns from Ireland ("We Lift Up as Our Shield God's Name"  "Be Thou My Vision"), Wales ("O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus!"), Germany ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God," and "Silent Night"), America ("Amazing Grace"), Latin (Of the Father's Love Begotten").

Consider the content—

Do the songs that you sing send you back to the Scriptures to understand the deeper references?  Consider these old hymns:

* Hark the Harold Angels Sing

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.

This should point you back to 1 Corinthians 15:45-48 where Paul calls Jesus both the last Adam and the second man from heaven.

*  How Firm a Foundation

When through the deep waters I call you to go,
the rivers of sorrow shall not overflow;
for I will be with you, your troubles to bless,
and sanctify to you your deepest distress.

When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie,
my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply;
the flame shall not hurt you; I only design
your dross to consume and your gold to refine. 

This should point you to Isa. 42:10 where God promises that whether through waters or through fire He would be with you to help and protect you.

These are but two small examples of the  Scriptural allusions that lie within most hymns of old.  Make sure that all the songs that you sing point back to Scriptures in a similar fashion.

Above all, we have Christ who changeth not!—

In addition to all that, we have the sure immutability of Christ Himself.  The writer to the Hebrews stated in bold certainty that "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever."  He never changes!  Consider that.  J. C. Ryle wrote:

   "The Savior, in whom you trust, is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He knows no variability, no shadow of turning.  Though high in heaven at God's right hand, He is just the same in heart as that He was [2000] years ago.  Remember that and you will do well."

Think of that, Christian: This Christ is the same as He was 2000 years ago.  That means that He was the same as Augustine perceived Him, and the same as Martin Luther encountered Him, and the same as the Divines in Westminster detailed Him.  Can we not learn from these saints who have experienced Him in times past and written about Him in eloquent ways?  Likewise, can we not benefit from words in songs that saints of old sang?

In summary—
This is not a paper trying to dissuade modern hymns and songs.  Instead, this is an argument not to neglect the old while we try to include the new.  God has given a multitude of gifts to His church throughout the ages.  We would be very proud and arrogant if we think that we could do away with those who came before us.

If God is infinite and is most perfect and most wise, how then could any creature ever hope to have a thought that is good that He hadn't thought of already?  It would be pride that thinks it could.  Ultimately then, the best we can do it to think God's thoughts after Him.  God's thought, first and foremost found in Scriptures, but also as found in writings of saints who have lived before us and thought God's thoughts.  And the purpose of this essay is to encourage us to look to old hymns too.  Hymns that were written by saints who were contemplating God and God's thoughts and thus were overwhelmed with who God is!  All must be governed and in conformity to the Bible, Sola Scriptura.  However, we should sure that we do not forget those who have anchored their words, doctrine and lyrics in Scriptura.  Our worship will be far richer by their inclusion.